Beyond Coffee: Real Ways to Beat Fatigue Behind the Wheel November 28, 2025 Beyond Coffee: Real Ways to Beat Fatigue Behind the Wheel We’ve all been there. That familiar afternoon slump hits, your eyelids feel heavy, and you reach for another cup of coffee to keep yourself going. For many drivers, especially those behind the wheel for hours at a time, fatigue feels like an inevitable part of the job. But here’s the thing: whilst caffeine can help pin the short term, it’s far from the only tool in your toolkit, and it might not be the best one either. Driver drowsiness remains a serious safety concern on Australian roads. In fact, driver fatigue accounts for approximately 24.9% of fatal accidents among the general population on Australian roads, with drowsy drivers almost three times more likely to be involved in a crash or near crash compared to alert drivers1. These aren’t just numbers – they represent real people, real families, and real consequences. The Caffeine Reality Caffeine does work. Research shows that a single cup of caffeinated coffee can significantly reduce lane drifting, speed variability, subjective sleepiness and mental effort during monotonous highway driving, with improvements seen for up to two hours after consumption2. More impressively, another study found that repeat 200 mg caffeine doses actually weakened the link between drowsiness and driving errors even when drivers were severely fatigued helping them maintain safer steering and speed control over long periods1. But caffeine isn’t magic. It makes tiredness by blocking adenosine, the brain chemical that creates sleep pressure, rather than addressing the root cause of fatigue. And if you drink it too late in the day, you can sabotage your night’s sleep and make next-day tiredness even worse3. Better Strategies That Actually Work Your body’s natural rhythms play a massive role in how awake you feel. Most people experience sharp dips in alertness between midnight and 6 am, and again mid-afternoon3. If you have to drive during these windows, slow down, take more breaks, and choose foods that provide sustained energy rather than quick spikes. Sleep inertia is another hidden threat. That groggy, autopilot feeling after waking up temporarily dulls your decision-making abilities, with the highest number of safety-critical driving events occurring during the first hour after waking up3. Before hitting the road after any rest, take time to fully shake off the sleep fog, a walk around your vehicle, some light stretching, or exposure to natural light can work wonders. One surprisingly effective strategy is taking a 20-minute nap instead of reaching for coffee3. A short nap actually clears adenosine from your brain, giving you a genuine mental reset hat improves focus and reaction time. Pair it with a refreshing drink and a quick walk afterwards, and you’ve got a far more effective fatigue-fighter than another caffeine hit. Finally, avoid letting sleep debt build up. You can’t undo a week of poor rest with one long sleep-in. Going to bed 15 minutes earlier each night and keeping a consistent routine can dramatically reduce long-term tiredness3. Good sleep hygiene, including less screen time, minimal alcohol before bed, and a cool, dark sleep environment, will make your rest far more restorative. Take Control of Your Safety If you’re regularly struggling with fatigue behind the wheel, or if you find yourself experiencing frequent episodes of drowsiness that affect your driving, it’s time to have a conversation with your doctor. Persistent tiredness can sometimes signal underlying health conditions worth investigating, and your doctor can help you develop a personalised fatigue management plan suited to your lifestyle and driving demands. Your safety, and everyone else’s on the road, depends on it. How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 80 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time. If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnoea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply. References [1] Aidman, E., et al. “Caffeine Reduces the Impact of Drowsiness on Driving Errors.” Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, vol. 54, 1 Apr. 2018, pp. 236–247, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847816300390, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2018.01.008. [2] Mets, M. A. J., et al. “Effects of Coffee on Driving Performance during Prolonged Simulated Highway Driving.” Psychopharmacology, vol. 222, no. 2, 8 Feb. 2012, pp. 337–342, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3382640/, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2647-7. [3] “Beyond Coffee: 5 Real Tips to Help Drivers Fight Fatigue | CarriersEdge.” Carriers Edge, 2025, www.carriersedge.com/resources/stay-connected/blog/5-ways-to-fight-fatigue?lang=EN. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
